From my kayak 7/27-8/11

We have spent the month on our local lakes/rivers with an occasional foray to more distant bodies of water.

Kayaking 7/5 – 10

On July 1, we had a flooding event. The Wilder dam opened its floodgates,making for unsafe paddling conditions. Above the dam it was either mudflat or strong current filled with floating debris. Finally on Wednesday, the river was back to normal levels so we went out.

A family of ducks. –Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17
Wood duck —
Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17

The next day, we headed to North Hartland Dam. Here, the water levels had risen about 4 feet, leaving a bath tub ring of mud on the plants around the lake. They were busy dredging the outlet of the dam, trying to get rid of accumulated silt and debris.

Dredging the outlet at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


We saw a number of birds of prey: eagles,

Bald eagle, probably 4 years old. –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a couple of osprey,

Osprey –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a great blue heron

Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


as well as a red-winged blackbird.

Red-winged blackbird –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17

After a ducky day on the Connecticut,

Duck family –Connecticut River 7/8/17


we returned to North Hartland.

Duck family –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingbird feeding babies—North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Water lily –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Fishing at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17

North Hartland Lake 9/12

We spent quite a while watching an immature bald eagle yesterday on North Hartland Lake.

Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle

Watching me
Watching me

Eagle taking off
Eagle taking off

We also saw the usual variety of herons, ducks, and osprey.

Osprey with fish
Osprey with fish

Great blue heron with lunch
Great blue heron with lunch

Mergansers and an egret
Mergansers and an egret

Osprey on North Hartland Lake 9/6

North Hartland Lake provided a show of the usual herons and turtles but also had an osprey hanging around.

Great blue heron in tree
Great blue heron in tree

Turtles sunning
Turtles sunning

Osprey hovering
Osprey hovering

Osprey fishing
Osprey fishing

Osprey landing
Osprey landing

Osprey in tree
Osprey in tree